Anambra stakeholders call for declaration of emergency in security in Anambra.

By Felix Oti, Awka.

     Stakeholders at the inaugural Awka Security Summit including the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2021 election, Chief Valentine Ozigbo  have called for declaration. of emergency in security in Anambra State generally.                  


Ozigbo  who has declared interest to run for the governorship of the State on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) come 2025 lamented that government doesn't rise to security emergencies pro-actively by tackling the root causes and find solutions to them, but opt to  live in denial concerning the gravity of the nature of security challenges in Awka in particular and State in general.                                                   

He commended Mbachu, the  Convener of the Security Summit for the brainstorming session, adding that there's need for the Summit to come up with recommendations for consideration and implementation by the Chukwuma Suludo  administration, failing which he assured of full implementation, if elected, as governor in the forthcoming election.                         

 The Senator representing Anambra Central  Senatorial District said the spate of killings and crises should not be identified with Awka as the state capital and a leading city in the South-east zone, but should be peaceful and secured to attract  huge investors and developers.                          
  Umeh who spoke through Zoom appreciated Mbachu for the initiative despite opposition from some quarters, said communities that protect criminals are bound to retrogress, stressing that security is everybody's responsibility.    

   The Archbishop of Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka, Archbishop Alexander Ibezim who also presented his view said the parents, community leaders, government, school and churches, among others, have roles to play to check the blood-letting, cultism and killings across the State, calling for teaching of morality to students in schools.                                                              

Contributing, the leader of delegation of Ozo title-holders, Ozo James Eze and Secretary of the Ozo group, Ozo Nwakalor observed that insecurity especially cult-related killings in Awka is an anathema, alleging that sponsors are behind. the security challenges in rhe State.

  They revealed that the Ozo stakeholders have resolved that any member who moves to bail a suspected criminal or is found to sponsor cultists or criminals will be ex-communicated  from the  group.             

In her contribution, the President-general ADUN ,(Women Wing), Mrs Ogechukwu Ekweozor said women have had to hold prayers, peaceful protest and advocacy visits to security agencies in their bid to find lasting solutions to insecurity in Awka, lamenting that her group was once accused of being politically-sponsored by a political party to disrupt the second-term administration of the then governor, Willie Obiano.

 Also contributing via Zoom, the member of House of Representatives for Awla North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Lilian Orogbu   exonerated government from the security challenges, adding that government alone  can't solve security challenges without the cooperation.                     

    Orogbu called on different groups in Awka to work together to fish out the criminal  perpetrators in the midst of the community,  regretting that the killing of youths reduce the male population, manpower and community defenders  in time of conflicts and external aggression.    

A former Deputy Speaker in the House of Assembly, Hon Ozo Keluo Molokwu blamed government for fueling the fire of cultism whenever it fails to screen or goes ahead to appoint a sponsor of cult group to head a market or lead a village/community as there’s a tendency to recruit his members to join him in leadership.
Contributing, the leader of delegation of Ozo title-holders, Ozo James Eze and Secretary of the Ozo group, Ozo Nwakalor observed that insecurity especially cult-related killings in Awka is an anathema, alleging that sponsors are behind. the security challenges in rhe State.
They revealed that the Ozo stakeholders have resolved that any member who moves to bail a suspected criminal or is found to sponsor cultists or criminals will be excommunicated from the group.

In her contribution, the President-general of ADUN ,(Women Wing), Mrs Ogechukwu Ekweozor, a lawyer said women have had to hold prayers, peaceful protest and advocacy visits to security agencies, lamenting that her group was accused of being sponsored to disrupt the second-term administration of the then governor, Willie Obiano.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Umennajiego commended Mbachu for the maiden Summit and called on the entire people of Awka to look inwards to find out if saboteurs are behind the dastardly acts.                                                          

Umennajiego who spoke on behalf of the members disclosed that the perpetrators who arm themselves with AK-47 rifles have sponsors and charged the youths to challenge any sponsor of cult-related killings, kidnappings and other crimes should produce his son to lead the violent attacks and killings.

In his remark, the President of ADUN, Port Harcourt Branch, Chief Emeka Oyeoka called for a round-table discussion by different factions in Awka, including Traditional Institution, Town Union, Ozo title groups, Women groups and youth groups to unity to chart a cause for resolving disunity and insecurity in the capital city, urging youths should endeavour to learn job or learn skills in order not to be used as devil’s workshop